New honor guard NCOIC brings Hawaiian style

  • Published
  • By Sheila Rupp
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Hawaiian music echoes throughout the honor guard office here. A new noncommissioned officer has just arrived and brings with him the spirit of the islands.

Staff Sgt. Kamuela Alesna has only been at Kirtland just over a year, but he has already made his mark. Sergeant Alesna will take over the reins of the Kirtland Honor Guard from Master Sgt. David McKay Monday.

Early this summer Sergeant McKay began looking for a qualified Airman to take over the NCOIC honor guard position after his retirement. He sent out several e-mails to Team Kirtland soliciting technical and master sergeants to apply for the position. Sergeant Alesna watched the e-mails come and go for several months and said that he believed he was qualified for the position. He called Master Sgt. Robert Scott, 377th Security Forces Squadron to see what he thought about the idea of applying, and after discussion with Sergeant McKay, Sergeant Alesna was encouraged to apply.

Capt. Kevin Eberhart, operations officer of security forces said, "He has an outstanding ability to combine leadership and compassion, and his professional image is above reproach."

On Oct. 22, Sergeant Alesna was working in the Kirtland Underground Munitions Maintenance Storage Complex when he received a phone call from Sergeant McKay.

"He told me that even though he didn't want to do it on the phone he didn't think I would mind, and he offered me the position. I was so honored, but I was down there all alone and didn't even have anyone to tell," Sergeant Alesna said.

Sergeant McKay said that Sergeant Alesna was selected from the pool of qualified applicants because he has an effective presence, has a clear vision, and knows how to motivate and manage a large team.

Sergeant Alesna comes into the position with several years of previous honor guard experience. He said that he originally became involved in honor guard because while growing up in Hawaii he often went to Punchbowl National Cemetery to pay respect to passed family members and often saw members of the honor guard performing ceremonies. He said it is rewarding and humbling to provide ceremonies for those that have served in the military and have passed on.

Before coming here, Sergeant Alesna served as assistant NCOIC of the honor guard at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Part of his motivation in applying for the position was his experience in security forces. "Cops started the honor guard, and I can't remember the last time I saw a cop as the NCOIC of an honor guard," he said.

Serving his community has been something that the sergeant has always felt compelled to do. He has worked with Habitat for Humanity, coached children's paddling, volunteered at local schools and helped to organize a Christmas party for his community in Hawaii. While serving at Bellows Air Force Station, Hawaii, as an airman 1st class, he organized a fundraiser for a 14-year-old girl he'd heard about that had lost an eye to a firework accident. He said he credits much of his drive and dedication to his community to his mother, Penny, who raised four children on her own. He also said that much of his success has come because of the support his wife, Candice, and his family and friends have provided over the years. The sergeant said that without their love and support the experience he is about to undertake would never have happened.

He said his ultimate goal and dream is to be the chief master sergeant of the Air Force. His goal with the honor guard here is to bring in the "aloha spirit" to give back to the Airmen who serve the country and to reapply and reinforce the honor guard values to the members who support and represent their squadrons, units, the Air Force and themselves, Sergeant Alesna said.

Sergeant Alesna goes into the position excited and honored to be serving in this capacity. He said that he has confidence that with the available resources and team members, the Team Kirtland Honor Guard is and will continue to be a solid organization for the base.

"Whatever we have to do, I'll get the mission done ... whatever it takes," he said.